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President Donald Trump deserves credit for finally taking decisive action to close the southern border to illegal crossings. For too long, our immigration system was overwhelmed and chaotic, and his administration’s strong stance has brought a level of control and clarity that Americans have long demanded. Borders matter — every nation has a right and obligation to defend its sovereignty. And kudos are also due for identifying and deporting those who have committed violent crimes or demonstrated a threat to public safety. They have to go.
However, securing the border is just one piece of the puzzle. Now that the flow of illegal crossings has been stopped, Congress and the Trump administration have a historic opportunity — and a moral obligation — to deal humanely and rationally with the millions of undocumented immigrants who are already living among us, many of them for years or even decades.
Despite the administration’s claims, the vast majority of undocumented immigrants are not murderers, rapists or violent gang members. Rather, they are law-abiding, productive members of our communities. They are raising children, paying taxes, attending churches, volunteering and doing the kinds of tough, unglamorous jobs that keep the American economy moving — jobs that many native-born citizens are unwilling to take. In countless ways, they are already woven into the fabric of American life.
Tragically, under the current policy of indiscriminate arrests and deportations, many of these families live in constant fear. Parents are terrified of being separated from their children. Workers are afraid to go to their jobs. Entire communities are paralyzed. This is not the America we aspire to be.
We should not confuse law enforcement with cruelty. Yes, we must enforce immigration laws — but with wisdom, compassion and common sense. Treating every undocumented person as a criminal is both unfair and counterproductive. Blanket deportations not only break apart families, they also shrink our workforce at a time when American employers are already struggling to find labor. From agriculture to hospitality, from construction to elder care, undocumented immigrants play a vital role in industries that help drive our economy.
For over four decades, Congress has failed to reform America’s broken immigration system, bearing significant culpability for the crisis we face today. Despite countless commissions, bipartisan proposals and moments of national urgency, lawmakers have repeatedly chosen political expediency over long-term solutions — kicking the can down the road while communities, migrants and border agencies bear the consequences. The result is a system plagued by outdated laws, overwhelmed courts, humanitarian strain and fractured public trust. Inaction is no longer an option. It is time for Congress to summon the political courage it has long lacked and deliver comprehensive, humane and enforceable immigration reform. They need to do that now.
